LAKE CARMEL – Kwanzaa, an annual celebration of African-American culture, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu will be celebrated today in Lake Carmel.
Kwanzaa was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on research of African harvest festival traditions.
Initially celebrated in 1966 some one to two million Americans celebrate the holiday annually.
Today’s festival is being organized by Linda Paris who described Putnam’s celebration as “extremely important due to the county’s low minority presence. It’s essential for us to be seen as members of one’s community and not just as people who moved in and are interlopers. We are integral parts of our community, and we relocated to Putnam in order not to become isolated.”
Paris also had a message for the county’s six school systems: “If children don’t have a parent at home who opens up the world for our next generation and if districts are not teaching children curriculum containing a multi-cultural focus, our celebrations can fill in the gaps and answer questions without becoming confrontational.”
Festivities get underway at 2 p.m. at Arts on the Lake off Route 52.
The event is also being highlighted by a warm clothing drive and a non-perishable food drive.
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